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Zhao P, Liu Z, Shi X, Hou W, Cheng M, Liu Y, Simmonds J, Ji W, Uauy C, Xu S, Wang X. Modern wheat breeding selection synergistically improves above- and belowground traits. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 196:47-50. [PMID: 38739540 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiae270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Peng Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Zihui Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Xue Shi
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Wenyang Hou
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Mingzhu Cheng
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Yuxiu Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - James Simmonds
- John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Wanquan Ji
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Cristobal Uauy
- John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Shengbao Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Xiaoming Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
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Zhang X, Liu X, Wang L, Zhao Q, Yu Y, Du R, Xu Y, Zhen W, Wang Y. Wheat yield and grain-filling characteristics due to cultivar replacement in the Haihe Plain in China. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1374453. [PMID: 39040512 PMCID: PMC11260742 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1374453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Background The Haihe Plain plays an important role in wheat production and food security in China and has experienced continuous cultivar replacement since the 1950s.This study assessed the evolution of the yield and grain-filling characteristics of the main winter wheat cultivars in the Haihe Plain over the last seven decades (1950s to date). Methods Cultivar characterization indicated that the increase in yield was negatively affected by spike number and positively affected by the number of kernels per spike before the 2000s and kernel weight after the 2000s. Field trials were conducted across two ecological zones over two consecutive wheatgrowing seasons. The results showed that genetic gains in grain yield, spike number, and kernel weight during 1955 to 2021 were 0.629%, 0.574%, and 0.332% year-1 on a relative basis or 39.12 kg ha-1, 24,350 hm-2, and 0.15 g year-1 on an absolute basis, respectively. However, the increase in the kernel number per spike was not significant. Moreover, cultivar replacement explained 25.6%, 12.8%, and 37.5% of the total variance in grain yield, spike number, and kernel weight, respectively. In summary, during the initial grain-filling stage, wheat cultivar replacement led to the shortening of grain-filling duration and rapid grain-filling rate. However, a longer active grain-filling duration was produced by prolonged durations of rapid and late grain-filling. Additionally, the experimental year had a greater effect on the kernel number, which explained 53.2% of the total variance. Ultimately, modern wheat cultivars had a greater kernel weight. Results Although the increase in kernel weight has affected grain yield during cultivar replacements in the Haihe Plain, the potential for further yield increase through kernel weight enhancement alone is limited. Consequently, future breeding efforts and cultivation practices should focus on improving spike traits and canopy architecture to enhance productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuecheng Zhang
- College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University, State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation, Key Laboratory of North China Water–saving Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Crop Growth Regulation of Hebei Province, Baoding, Hebei, China
| | - Xiaoli Liu
- College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University, State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation, Key Laboratory of North China Water–saving Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Crop Growth Regulation of Hebei Province, Baoding, Hebei, China
| | - Li Wang
- College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University, State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation, Key Laboratory of North China Water–saving Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Crop Growth Regulation of Hebei Province, Baoding, Hebei, China
| | - Qiancheng Zhao
- College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University, State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation, Key Laboratory of North China Water–saving Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Crop Growth Regulation of Hebei Province, Baoding, Hebei, China
| | - Yang Yu
- College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University, State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation, Key Laboratory of North China Water–saving Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Crop Growth Regulation of Hebei Province, Baoding, Hebei, China
| | - Ruirui Du
- College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University, State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation, Key Laboratory of North China Water–saving Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Crop Growth Regulation of Hebei Province, Baoding, Hebei, China
| | - Yadong Xu
- College of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Wenchao Zhen
- College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University, State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation, Key Laboratory of North China Water–saving Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Crop Growth Regulation of Hebei Province, Baoding, Hebei, China
| | - Yandong Wang
- College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University, State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation, Key Laboratory of North China Water–saving Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Crop Growth Regulation of Hebei Province, Baoding, Hebei, China
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Cope JE, Berckx F, Lundmark J, Henriksson T, Karlsson I, Weih M. Clear effects on root system architecture of winter wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L.) from cultivation environment and practices. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11099. [PMID: 38750060 PMCID: PMC11096180 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61765-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Roots play a pivotal role in the adaption of a plant to its environment, with different root traits adapting the plant to different stresses. The environment affects the Root System Architecture (RSA), but the genetic factors determine to what extent, and whether stress brought about by extreme environmental conditions is detrimental to a specific crop. This study aimed to identify differences in winter wheat RSA caused by cultivation region and practice, in the form of preceding crop (precrop), and to identify if modern cultivars used in Sweden differ in their reaction to these environments. This was undertaken using high-throughput phenotyping to assess the RSA. Clear differences in the RSA were observed between the Swedish cultivation regions, precrop treatments, and interaction of these conditions with each other and the genetics. Julius showed a large difference between cultivars, with 9.3-17.1% fewer and 12-20% narrower seminal roots. Standardized yield decreased when grown after wheat, 23% less compared to oilseed rape (OSR), and when grown in the Southern region, 14% less than the Central region. Additionally, correlations were shown between the root number, angle, and grain yield, with different root types being correlated depending on the precrop. Cultivars on the Swedish market show differences that can be adapted to the region-precrop combinations. The differences in precrop effect on RSA between regions show global implications and a need for further assessment. Correlations between RSA and yield, based on root-type × precrop, indicate different needs of the RSA depending on the management practices and show the potential for improving crop yield through targeting genotypic and environmental conditions in a holistic manner. Understanding this RSA variance, and the mechanisms of conditional response, will allow targeted cultivar breeding for specific environments, increasing plant health and food security.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan E Cope
- Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Fede Berckx
- Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Johan Lundmark
- Lantmännen Lantbruk, Udda Lundkvists väg 11, S-26881, Svalöv, Sweden
| | - Tina Henriksson
- Lantmännen Lantbruk, Udda Lundkvists väg 11, S-26881, Svalöv, Sweden
| | - Ida Karlsson
- Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Clinical Genomics Uppsala, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Martin Weih
- Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
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Du P, Zhu YH, Weiner J, Sun Z, Li H, Feng T, Li FM. Reduced Root Cortical Tissue with an Increased Root Xylem Investment Is Associated with High Wheat Yields in Central China. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:1075. [PMID: 38674484 PMCID: PMC11054696 DOI: 10.3390/plants13081075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Trait-based approaches are increasingly used to understand crop yield improvement, although they have not been widely applied to anatomical traits. Little is known about the relationships between root and leaf anatomy and yield in wheat. We selected 20 genotypes that have been widely planted in Luoyang, in the major wheat-producing area of China, to explore these relationships. A field study was performed to measure the yields and yield components of the genotypes. Root and leaf samples were collected at anthesis to measure the anatomical traits relevant to carbon allocation and water transport. Yield was negatively correlated with cross-sectional root cortex area, indicating that reduced root cortical tissue and therefore reduced carbon investment have contributed to yield improvement in this region. Yield was positively correlated with root xylem area, suggesting that a higher water transport capacity has also contributed to increased yields in this study. The area of the leaf veins did not significantly correlate with yield, showing that the high-yield genotypes did not have larger veins, but they may have had a conservative water use strategy, with tight regulation of water loss from the leaves. This study demonstrates that breeding for higher yields in this region has changed wheat's anatomical traits, reducing the roots' cortical tissue and increasing the roots' xylem investment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengzhen Du
- School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070, China;
| | - Yong-He Zhu
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, College of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China;
| | - Jacob Weiner
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark;
| | - Zhengli Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agroecosystems, Institute of Arid Agroecology, School of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; (Z.S.); (H.L.)
| | - Huiquan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agroecosystems, Institute of Arid Agroecology, School of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; (Z.S.); (H.L.)
| | - Tao Feng
- Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment-Related Polymer Materials of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials of Gansu Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Feng-Min Li
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, College of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China;
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agroecosystems, Institute of Arid Agroecology, School of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; (Z.S.); (H.L.)
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Kalra A, Goel S, Elias AA. Understanding role of roots in plant response to drought: Way forward to climate-resilient crops. THE PLANT GENOME 2024; 17:e20395. [PMID: 37853948 DOI: 10.1002/tpg2.20395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Drought stress leads to a significant amount of agricultural crop loss. Thus, with changing climatic conditions, it is important to develop resilience measures in agricultural systems against drought stress. Roots play a crucial role in regulating plant development under drought stress. In this review, we have summarized the studies on the role of roots and root-mediated plant responses. We have also discussed the importance of root system architecture (RSA) and the various structural and anatomical changes that it undergoes to increase survival and productivity under drought. Various genes, transcription factors, and quantitative trait loci involved in regulating root growth and development are also discussed. A summarization of various instruments and software that can be used for high-throughput phenotyping in the field is also provided in this review. More comprehensive studies are required to help build a detailed understanding of RSA and associated traits for breeding drought-resilient cultivars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anmol Kalra
- Department of Botany, University of Delhi, North Campus, Delhi, India
| | - Shailendra Goel
- Department of Botany, University of Delhi, North Campus, Delhi, India
| | - Ani A Elias
- ICFRE - Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding (ICFRE - IFGTB), Coimbatore, India
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Vukasovic S, Eckert AH, Moritz AL, Borsch C, Rudloff S, Snowdon RJ, Stahl A. Effect of a QTL on wheat chromosome 5B associated with enhanced root dry mass on transpiration and nitrogen uptake under contrasting drought scenarios in wheat. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 24:83. [PMID: 38308236 PMCID: PMC10835935 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-04756-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A sufficient nitrogen supply is crucial for high-quality wheat yields. However, the use of nitrogen fertilization can also negatively influence ecosystems due to leaching or volatile atmospheric emissions. Drought events, increasingly prevalent in many crop production areas, significantly impact nitrogen uptake. Breeding more efficient wheat varieties is necessary to achieve acceptable yields with limited nitrogen and water. Crop root systems play a crucial role as the primary organ for absorbing water and nutrients. To investigate the impact of an enhanced root system on nitrogen and water use efficiency in wheat under various irrigation conditions, this study conducted two experiments using precision phenotyping platforms for controlled drought stress treatment. Experiment 1 involved four contrasting winter wheat genotypes. It included the Chinese variety Ning0604, carrying a quantitative trait locus (QTL) on chromosome 5B associated with a higher root dry biomass, and three elite German varieties, Elixer, Genius, and Leandrus. Experiment 2 compared near-isogenic lines (NIL) of the three elite varieties, each containing introgressions of the QTL on chromosome 5B linked to root dry mass. In both experiments, nitrogen partitioning was tracked via isotope discrimination after fertilization with 5 Atom % 15N-labeled KNO3-. RESULTS In experiment 1 the quantification by 15N isotope discrimination revealed significantly (p < 0.05) higher nitrogen derived from fertilizer in the root organ for Ning0604 than those of the three German varieties. In experiment 2, two out of three NILs showed a significantly (p < 0.05) higher uptake of N derived from fertilizer than their respective recipient line under well-watered conditions. Furthermore, significantly lower transpiration rates (p < 0.1) were observed in one NIL compared to its respective recipient. CONCLUSIONS The combination of the DroughtSpotter facility coupled with 15N tracer-based tracking of N uptake and remobilization extends the insight into the impact of genetically altered root biomass on wheat NUE and WUE under different water availability scenarios. The study shows the potential for how a modified genetic constitution of the locus on wheat chromosome 5B can reduce transpiration and enhance N uptake. The dependence of the observations on the recipient and water availability suggests a need for further research to investigate the interaction with genetic background traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stjepan Vukasovic
- Department of Plant Breeding, IFZ Research Centre for Biosystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany.
| | - Andreas H Eckert
- Department of Plant Breeding, IFZ Research Centre for Biosystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Anna L Moritz
- Department of Plant Breeding, IFZ Research Centre for Biosystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Christian Borsch
- Analytical Platform Stable Isotopes and Cell Biology, Institute of Nutritional Sciences, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Silvia Rudloff
- Analytical Platform Stable Isotopes and Cell Biology, Institute of Nutritional Sciences, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Rod J Snowdon
- Department of Plant Breeding, IFZ Research Centre for Biosystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Andreas Stahl
- Department of Plant Breeding, IFZ Research Centre for Biosystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
- Institute for Resistance Research and Stress Tolerance, Julius Kühn Institute (JKI) - Federal Research Center for Cultivated Plants, Quedlinburg, Germany
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Yan M, Lian H, Zhang C, Chen Y, Cai H, Zhang S. The role of root size and root efficiency in grain production, and water-and nitrogen-use efficiency in wheat. JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE 2023; 103:7083-7094. [PMID: 37332073 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.12794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The root system is the major plant organ involved in water and nutrient acquisition, influencing plant growth and productivity. However, the relative importance of root size and uptake efficiency remains undetermined. A pot experiment was conducted using two wheat varieties with different root sizes to evaluate their capacity for water and nitrogen (N) uptake and their effects on grain production, water-use efficiency (WUE), and N-use efficiency (NUE) under two water treatments combined with three N levels. RESULTS The leaf water potential and root exudates of changhan58 (CH, small root variety) were higher or similar to those of changwu134 (CW, large root variety) under water/N treatment combinations, indicating that small roots can transport enough water to above the ground. The addition of N improved plant growth, photosynthetic traits, and WUE significantly. There were no significant differences in WUE or grain production between the two cultivars under well-watered conditions. However, they were significantly higher in CH than in CW under water deficit stress. Nitrogen uptake per unit root dry weight, glutaminase, and nitrate reductase activities were significantly higher in CH than in CW, regardless of moisture conditions. Root biomass was positively correlated with evapotranspiration, while the root/shoot ratio was negatively correlated with WUE (P < 0.05) but not with NUE. CONCLUSION In a pot experiment, water and N uptake were more strongly associated with resource uptake availability than root size. This may provide guidance in wheat breeding programs for drought-prone regions. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minfei Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Huida Lian
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Changzhi, Changzhi, China
| | - Cong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Yinglong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
- The UWA Institute of Agriculture, & School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Huanjie Cai
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Soil and Water Engineering in Arid and Semiarid Areas, Ministry of Education, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Suiqi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
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Robinson D. OPT-ing out: Root-shoot dynamics are caused by local resource capture and biomass allocation, not optimal partitioning. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2023; 46:3023-3039. [PMID: 36285352 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Combining plant growth analysis with a simple model of local resource capture and biomass allocation applied to exemplary experimental data, showed that dynamic changes in allocation to roots when nutrients are scarce is caused by disparities in growth rates between roots and shoots. Whole-plant growth rates also change but are not caused by an adaptive allocation response. Allocation and whole-plant growth rate are interdependent, not independent, traits. Following a switch in nutrient availability or partial biomass removal, convergence of allocation and growth rate trajectories does not reflect goal-seeking behaviour, but the constraints imposed by finite resource availability. Optimal root-shoot allocations are unnecessary to maximise whole-plant growth rate. Similar growth rates are attainable with different allocations. Changes in allocation cannot maintain or restore a superior whole-plant growth rate. Roots and shoots do not have to be tightly coordinated but can operate semiautonomously, as their modular construction permits. These findings question the plausibility of the prevailing general explanation of plants' root-shoot allocation responses, 'optimal partitioning theory' (OPT). Local allocation models, not OPT, explain the origins of variability in root-shoot trade-offs in individuals, the allocation of biomass at global and ecosystem scales and inform selection for allocation plasticity in crop breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Robinson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
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Golan G, Abbai R, Schnurbusch T. Exploring the trade-off between individual fitness and community performance of wheat crops using simulated canopy shade. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2023; 46:3144-3157. [PMID: 36428231 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The genetic heritage of wheat (Triticum spp.) crops has been shaped by millions of years of predomestication natural selection, often driven by competition among individuals. However, genetic improvements in yield potential are thought to involve selection towards reduced competitiveness, thus enhancing adaptation to the crop environment. We investigated potential trade-offs between individual plant fitness and community performance using a population of introgression lines carrying chromosome segments of wild emmer (nondomesticated) in the background of an elite durum cultivar. We focused on light as a primary factor affecting plant-plant interactions and assessed morphological and biomass phenotypes of single plants grown in mixtures under sunlight and a simulated canopy shade, and the relevance of these phenotypes for the monoculture community in the field. We found that responses to canopy shade resemble responses to high density and contribute to both the individual and the community. Stepwise regressions suggested that grain number per spike and its persistence under shade are essential attributes of productive communities, advocating their use as a breeding target during early-generation selection. Overall, multiple phenotypes attained under shade could better explain community performance. Our novel, applicable, high-throughput set-up provides new prospects for studying and selecting single-plant phenotypes in a canopy-like environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guy Golan
- Research Group Plant Architecture, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), OT Gatersleben, Seeland, Germany
| | - Ragavendran Abbai
- Research Group Plant Architecture, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), OT Gatersleben, Seeland, Germany
| | - Thorsten Schnurbusch
- Research Group Plant Architecture, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), OT Gatersleben, Seeland, Germany
- Faculty of Natural Sciences III, Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
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10
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Siddiqui N, Gabi MT, Kamruzzaman M, Ambaw AM, Teferi TJ, Dadshani S, Léon J, Ballvora A. Genetic dissection of root architectural plasticity and identification of candidate loci in response to drought stress in bread wheat. BMC Genom Data 2023; 24:38. [PMID: 37495985 PMCID: PMC10373353 DOI: 10.1186/s12863-023-01140-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The frequency of droughts has dramatically increased over the last 50 years, causing yield declines in cereals, including wheat. Crop varieties with efficient root systems show great potential for plant adaptation to drought stress, however; genetic control of root systems in wheat under field conditions is not yet well understood. RESULTS Natural variation in root architecture plasticity (phenotypic alteration due to changing environments) was dissected under field-based control (well-irrigated) and drought (rain-out shelter) conditions by a genome-wide association study using 200 diverse wheat cultivars. Our results revealed root architecture and plasticity traits were differentially responded to drought stress. A total of 25 marker-trait associations (MTAs) underlying natural variations in root architectural plasticity were identified in response to drought stress. They were abundantly distributed on chromosomes 1 A, 1B, 2 A, 2B, 3 A, 3B, 4B, 5 A, 5D, 7 A and 7B of the wheat genome. Gene ontology annotation showed that many candidate genes associated with plasticity were involved in water-transport and water channel activity, cellular response to water deprivation, scavenging reactive oxygen species, root growth and development and hormone-activated signaling pathway-transmembrane transport, indicating their response to drought stress. Further, in silico transcript abundance analysis demonstrated that root plasticity-associated candidate genes were highly expressed in roots across different root growth stages and under drought treatments. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that root phenotypic plasticity is highly quantitative, and the corresponding loci are associated with drought stress that may provide novel ways to enable root trait breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nurealam Siddiqui
- Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES)-Plant Breeding, University of Bonn, 53115, Bonn, Germany
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, 1706, Bangladesh
| | - Melesech T Gabi
- Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES)-Plant Breeding, University of Bonn, 53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Mohammad Kamruzzaman
- Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES)-Plant Breeding, University of Bonn, 53115, Bonn, Germany
- Plant Breeding Division, Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA), Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh
| | - Abebaw M Ambaw
- Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES)-Plant Breeding, University of Bonn, 53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Tesfaye J Teferi
- Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES)-Plant Breeding, University of Bonn, 53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Said Dadshani
- INRES-Plant Nutrition, University of Bonn, 53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Jens Léon
- Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES)-Plant Breeding, University of Bonn, 53115, Bonn, Germany
- Field Lab Campus Klein-Altendorf, University of Bonn, Klein-Altendorf 2, 53359, Rheinbach, Germany
| | - Agim Ballvora
- Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES)-Plant Breeding, University of Bonn, 53115, Bonn, Germany.
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Ren K, Xu M, Li R, Zheng L, Wang H, Liu S, Zhang W, Duan Y, Lu C. Achieving high yield and nitrogen agronomic efficiency by coupling wheat varieties with soil fertility. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 881:163531. [PMID: 37076009 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Wheat breeding has progressively increased yield potential through decades of selection, markedly increased the capacity for food production. Nitrogen (N) fertilizer is essential for wheat production and N agronomic efficiency (NAE) is commonly index used for evaluate the effects of N fertilizer on crop yield, calculated as the difference of wheat yield between N fertilizer treatment and non-N fertilizer treatment divided by the total N application rate. However, the impact of variety on NAE and its interaction with soil fertility remain unknown. Here, to clarify whether and how wheat variety contributes to NAE, and to determine if soil conditions should be considered in variety selection, we conduct a large-scale analysis of data from 12,925 field trials spanning ten years and including 229 wheat varieties, 5 N fertilizer treatments, and a range of soil fertility across China's major wheat production zones. The national average NAE was 9.57 kg kg-1, but significantly differed across regions. At both the national and regional scales, variety significantly affected NAE, and different varieties showed high variability in their performance among low, moderate, and high fertility soils. Here, superior varieties with both high yield and high NAE were identified at each soil fertility fields. The comprehensive effect of selecting regionally superior varieties, optimizing N management, and improving soil fertility could potentially decrease the yield gap by 67 %. Therefore, variety selection based on soil conditions could facilitate improved food security while reducing fertilizer inputs to alleviate environmental impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keyu Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arid and Semi-arid Arable Land in Northern China, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Minggang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arid and Semi-arid Arable Land in Northern China, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Rong Li
- Cultivated Land Quality Monitoring and Protection Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100125, China
| | - Lei Zheng
- Cultivated Land Quality Monitoring and Protection Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100125, China
| | - Huiying Wang
- Cultivated Land Quality Monitoring and Protection Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100125, China
| | - Shaogui Liu
- Yangzhou Station of Farmland Quality Protection, Yangzhou 225100, China
| | - Wenju Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arid and Semi-arid Arable Land in Northern China, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yinghua Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arid and Semi-arid Arable Land in Northern China, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Changai Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arid and Semi-arid Arable Land in Northern China, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
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12
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Maqbool S, Ahmad S, Kainat Z, Khan MI, Maqbool A, Hassan MA, Rasheed A, He Z. Root system architecture of historical spring wheat cultivars is associated with alleles and transcripts of major functional genes. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 22:590. [PMID: 36526965 PMCID: PMC9756485 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-022-03937-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
We evaluated root system architecture (RSA) of a set of 58 historical spring wheat cultivars from Pakistan representing 105 years of selection breeding. The evaluations were carried out under control and water-limited conditions using a high-throughput phenotyping system coupled with RhizoVision Explorer software. The cultivars were classified into three groups based on release year as cultivars released pre-1965, released between 1965 and 2000, and cultivars released post-2000. Under water-limited conditions a decline in 20 out of 25 RSA component traits was observed in pre-1965 cultivars group. Whereas cultivars released after the 1965, so-called green revolution period, showed a decline in 17 traits with significant increments in root length, depth, and steep angle frequency which are important root traits for resource-uptake under water-limited conditions. Similarly, cultivars released after 2000 indicated an increase in the number of roots, depth, diameter, surface area, and steep angle frequency. The coefficient of correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between root depth and yield-related traits under water-limited conditions. We also investigated the effects of green-revolution genes (Rht1) and some phenology-related genes such as DRO1, TaMOR, TaLTPs, TaSus-2B on RSA and identified significant associations of these genes with important root traits. There was strong selection pressure on DRO1 gene in cultivated wheat indicating the allele fixed in modern wheat cultivars is different from landraces. The expression of DRO1, and TaMOR were retrieved from an RNAseq experiment, and results were validated using qRT-PCR. The highest expression of DRO1 and TaMOR was found in Chakwal-50, a rainfed cultivar released in 2008, and MaxiPak-65 released in 1965. We conclude that there is a positive historic change in RSA after 1965 that might be attributed to genetic factors associated with favored RSA traits. Furthermore, we suggest root depth and steep angle as promising traits to withstand water-limited environments and may have implications in selection for breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saman Maqbool
- Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
| | - Suhaib Ahmad
- Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
| | - Zarnishal Kainat
- Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Ibrar Khan
- Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
| | - Ammarah Maqbool
- Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Adeel Hassan
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), & CIMMYT-China office, 12 Zhongguancun South Street, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Awais Rasheed
- Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan.
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), & CIMMYT-China office, 12 Zhongguancun South Street, Beijing, 100081, China.
| | - Zhonghu He
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), & CIMMYT-China office, 12 Zhongguancun South Street, Beijing, 100081, China.
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13
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Wuest SE, Pires ND, Luo S, Vasseur F, Messier J, Grossniklaus U, Niklaus PA. Increasing plant group productivity through latent genetic variation for cooperation. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001842. [PMID: 36445870 PMCID: PMC9707777 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Historic yield advances in the major crops have, to a large extent, been achieved by selection for improved productivity of groups of plant individuals such as high-density stands. Research suggests that such improved group productivity depends on "cooperative" traits (e.g., erect leaves, short stems) that-while beneficial to the group-decrease individual fitness under competition. This poses a problem for some traditional breeding approaches, especially when selection occurs at the level of individuals, because "selfish" traits will be selected for and reduce yield in high-density monocultures. One approach, therefore, has been to select individuals based on ideotypes with traits expected to promote group productivity. However, this approach is limited to architectural and physiological traits whose effects on growth and competition are relatively easy to anticipate. Here, we developed a general and simple method for the discovery of alleles promoting cooperation in plant stands. Our method is based on the game-theoretical premise that alleles increasing cooperation benefit the monoculture group but are disadvantageous to the individual when facing noncooperative neighbors. Testing the approach using the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, we found a major effect locus where the rarer allele was associated with increased cooperation and productivity in high-density stands. The allele likely affects a pleiotropic gene, since we find that it is also associated with reduced root competition but higher resistance against disease. Thus, even though cooperation is considered evolutionarily unstable except under special circumstances, conflicting selective forces acting on a pleiotropic gene might maintain latent genetic variation for cooperation in nature. Such variation, once identified in a crop, could rapidly be leveraged in modern breeding programs and provide efficient routes to increase yields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel E. Wuest
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology & Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland,Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies & Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland,Group Breeding Research, Division Plant Breeding, Agroscope, Wädenswil, Switzerland,* E-mail:
| | - Nuno D. Pires
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology & Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Shan Luo
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
| | | | - Julie Messier
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
| | - Ueli Grossniklaus
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology & Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Pascal A. Niklaus
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies & Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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14
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Li C, Wang J, Li L, Li J, Zhuang M, Li B, Li Q, Huang J, Du Y, Wang J, Fan Z, Mao X, Jing R. TaMOR is essential for root initiation and improvement of root system architecture in wheat. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2022; 20:862-875. [PMID: 34890129 PMCID: PMC9055823 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Optimal root system architecture is beneficial for water-fertilizer use efficiency, stress tolerance and yield improvement of crops. However, because of the complexity of root traits and difficulty in phenotyping deep roots, the study on mechanisms of root development is rarely reported in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). In this study, we identified that the LBD (LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES DOMAIN) gene TaMOR (MORE ROOT in wheat) determines wheat crown root initiation. The mor mutants exhibited less or even no crown root, dwarfism, less grain number and lodging caused by few roots. The observation of cross sections showed that crown root initiation is inhibited in the mor mutants. Molecular assays revealed that TaMOR interacts with the auxin response factor ARF5 to directly induce the expression of the auxin transporter gene PIN2 (PIN-FORMED 2) in the root base to regulate crown root initiation. In addition, a 159-bp MITE (miniature inverted-repeat transposable element) insertion causing DNA methylation and lower expression of TaMOR-B was identified in TaMOR-B promoter, which is associated with lower root dry weight and shorter plant height. The results bring new light into regulation mechanisms of crown root initiation and offer a new target for the improvement of root system architecture in wheat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaonan Li
- National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement/Institute of Crop SciencesChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Jingyi Wang
- National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement/Institute of Crop SciencesChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Long Li
- National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement/Institute of Crop SciencesChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Jialu Li
- National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement/Institute of Crop SciencesChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Mengjia Zhuang
- National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement/Institute of Crop SciencesChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Bo Li
- National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement/Institute of Crop SciencesChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Qiaoru Li
- National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement/Institute of Crop SciencesChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Junfang Huang
- National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement/Institute of Crop SciencesChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Yan Du
- National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement/Institute of Crop SciencesChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Jinping Wang
- National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement/Institute of Crop SciencesChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Zipei Fan
- National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement/Institute of Crop SciencesChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Xinguo Mao
- National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement/Institute of Crop SciencesChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Ruilian Jing
- National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement/Institute of Crop SciencesChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
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15
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Colombo M, Roumet P, Salon C, Jeudy C, Lamboeuf M, Lafarge S, Dumas AV, Dubreuil P, Ngo W, Derepas B, Beauchêne K, Allard V, Le Gouis J, Rincent R. Genetic Analysis of Platform-Phenotyped Root System Architecture of Bread and Durum Wheat in Relation to Agronomic Traits. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:853601. [PMID: 35401645 PMCID: PMC8992431 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.853601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Roots are essential for water and nutrient uptake but are rarely the direct target of breeding efforts. To characterize the genetic variability of wheat root architecture, the root and shoot traits of 200 durum and 715 bread wheat varieties were measured at a young stage on a high-throughput phenotyping platform. Heritability of platform traits ranged from 0.40 for root biomass in durum wheat to 0.82 for the number of tillers. Field phenotyping data for yield components and SNP genotyping were already available for all the genotypes. Taking differences in earliness into account, several significant correlations between root traits and field agronomic performances were found, suggesting that plants investing more resources in roots in some stressed environments favored water and nutrient uptake, with improved wheat yield. We identified 100 quantitative trait locus (QTLs) of root traits in the bread wheat panels and 34 in the durum wheat panel. Most colocalized with QTLs of traits measured in field conditions, including yield components and earliness for bread wheat, but only in a few environments. Stress and climatic indicators explained the differential effect of some platform QTLs on yield, which was positive, null, or negative depending on the environmental conditions. Modern breeding has led to deeper rooting but fewer seminal roots in bread wheat. The number of tillers has been increased in bread wheat, but decreased in durum wheat, and while the root-shoot ratio for bread wheat has remained stable, for durum wheat it has been increased. Breeding for root traits or designing ideotypes might help to maintain current yield while adapting to specific drought scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel Colombo
- AGAP, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, Montpellier, France
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Pierre Roumet
- AGAP, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, Montpellier, France
| | - Christophe Salon
- Univ. Bourgogne, Agroecol Lab, Univ. Bourgogne Franche Comte, AgroSup Dijon, INRAE, Dijon, France
| | - Christian Jeudy
- Univ. Bourgogne, Agroecol Lab, Univ. Bourgogne Franche Comte, AgroSup Dijon, INRAE, Dijon, France
| | - Mickael Lamboeuf
- Univ. Bourgogne, Agroecol Lab, Univ. Bourgogne Franche Comte, AgroSup Dijon, INRAE, Dijon, France
| | | | | | | | - Wa Ngo
- INRAE-Universite Clermont-Auvergne, UMR 1095, GDEC, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Brice Derepas
- INRAE-Universite Clermont-Auvergne, UMR 1095, GDEC, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | | | - Vincent Allard
- INRAE-Universite Clermont-Auvergne, UMR 1095, GDEC, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Jacques Le Gouis
- INRAE-Universite Clermont-Auvergne, UMR 1095, GDEC, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Renaud Rincent
- INRAE-Universite Clermont-Auvergne, UMR 1095, GDEC, Clermont-Ferrand, France
- GQE-Le Moulon, INRAE, Univ. Paris-Sud, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Universite Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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16
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Zhu YH, Weiner J, Jin Y, Yu MX, Li FM. Biomass Allocation Responses to Root Interactions in Wheat Cultivars Support Predictions of Crop Evolutionary Ecology Theory. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:858636. [PMID: 35401614 PMCID: PMC8984106 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.858636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The goal of agriculture is to optimize the population yield, but natural selection has produced active competition among plants, which decreases population performance. Therefore, cultivar breeding should be based on group selection, increasing yield by weakening individual competitive responses. We hypothesize that this has occurred inadvertently to some degree, so modern cultivars have weakened competitive traits and responses, such as reduced root proliferation in response to neighboring roots. We conducted a field experiment with eight cultivars of spring wheat that have been released over the last hundred years, which we grew at two densities. Two contrasting wheat cultivars, a landrace and a modern cultivar, were used in a second field experiment on competition within and between the two cultivars to quantify their competitiveness. Finally, a greenhouse experiment was conducted with these two cultivars gown (a) in mixture and monoculture, (b) at four densities, (c) two watering levels, and (d) with permeable vs. non-permeable soil dividers, to study root proliferation responses to competition. Results of field experiment 1 showed that the population aboveground biomass (AGB) had increased, while belowground biomass had decreased over the course of breeding, so that the root to shoot ratio (R/S) was negatively correlated with the release year of the cultivar. The landrace had stronger competitiveness than the modern cultivar in the field experiment 2. There was clear evidence of root proliferation and a resultant reduction in AGB in response to neighboring roots in the greenhouse experiment, and the modern variety showed less root proliferation in response to neighbors. We conclude that the newer cultivar was a weaker competitor but higher-yielding in two ways: (1) it had higher reproductive effort and therefore less allocation to structures that increase competitive ability, and (2) it had reduced root proliferation in response to the roots of neighboring plants. Our results show that wheat plants change their biomass allocation in response to resource levels and the presence of neighboring roots. The presence of root proliferation in the modern cultivar, albeit less than in the landrace, suggests that further increases in yield via group selection are possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-He Zhu
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, College of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jacob Weiner
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Yi Jin
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ming-Xi Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agroecosystems, Institute of Arid Agroecology, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Feng-Min Li
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, College of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agroecosystems, Institute of Arid Agroecology, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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17
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Wuest SE, Peter R, Niklaus PA. Ecological and evolutionary approaches to improving crop variety mixtures. Nat Ecol Evol 2021; 5:1068-1077. [PMID: 34211140 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-021-01497-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Variety mixtures can provide a range of benefits for both the crop and the environment. Their utility for the suppression of pathogens, especially in small grain crops, is well established and has seen some remarkable successes. However, despite decades of academic interest in the topic, commercial efforts to develop, release and promote variety mixtures remain peripheral to normal breeding activities. Here we argue that this is because simple but general design principles that allow for the optimization of multiple mixture benefits are currently lacking. We therefore review the practical and conceptual challenges inherent in the development of variety mixtures, and discuss common approaches to overcome these. We further consider three domains in which they might be particularly beneficial: pathogen resistance, yield stability and yield enhancement. We demonstrate that combining evolutionary and ecological concepts with data typically available from breeding and variety testing programmes could make mixture development easier and more economic. Identifying synergies between the breeding for monocultures and mixtures may even be key to the widespread adoption of mixtures-to the profit of breeders, farmers and society as a whole.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel E Wuest
- Group Breeding Research, Division Plant Breeding, Agroscope, Wädenswil, Switzerland.
| | - Roland Peter
- Division Plant Breeding, Agroscope, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Pascal A Niklaus
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies & Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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18
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Li C, Li L, Reynolds MP, Wang J, Chang X, Mao X, Jing R. Recognizing the hidden half in wheat: root system attributes associated with drought tolerance. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2021; 72:5117-5133. [PMID: 33783492 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Improving drought tolerance in wheat is crucial for maintaining productivity and food security. Roots are responsible for the uptake of water from soil, and a number of root traits are associated with drought tolerance. Studies have revealed many quantitative trait loci and genes controlling root development in plants. However, the genetic dissection of root traits in response to drought in wheat is still unclear. Here, we review crop root traits associated with drought, key genes governing root development in plants, and quantitative trait loci and genes regulating root system architecture under water-limited conditions in wheat. Deep roots, optimal root length density and xylem diameter, and increased root surface area are traits contributing to drought tolerance. In view of the diverse environments in which wheat is grown, the balance among root and shoot traits, as well as individual and population performance, are discussed. The known functions of key genes provide information for the genetic dissection of root development of wheat in a wide range of conditions, and will be beneficial for molecular marker development, marker-assisted selection, and genetic improvement in breeding for drought tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaonan Li
- National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement/Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Long Li
- National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement/Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | | | - Jingyi Wang
- National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement/Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Xiaoping Chang
- National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement/Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Xinguo Mao
- National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement/Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Ruilian Jing
- National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement/Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
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19
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Regulation of Sixth Seminal Root Formation by Jasmonate in Triticum aestivum L. PLANTS 2021; 10:plants10020219. [PMID: 33498738 PMCID: PMC7911905 DOI: 10.3390/plants10020219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
A well-developed root system is an important characteristic of crop plants, which largely determines their productivity, especially under conditions of water and nutrients deficiency. Being Poaceous, wheat has more than one seminal root. The number of grown seminal roots varies in different wheat accessions and is regulated by environmental factors. Currently, the molecular mechanisms determining the number of germinated seminal roots remain poorly understood. The analysis of the root system development in germinating seeds of genetically modified hexaploid wheat plants with altered activity of jasmonate biosynthesis pathway and seeds exogenously treated with methyl jasmonate revealed the role of jasmonates in the regulation of sixth seminal root development. This regulatory effect strongly depends on the jasmonate concentration and the duration of the exposure to this hormone. The maximum stimulatory effect of exogenously applied methyl jasmonate on the formation of the sixth seminal root was achieved at 200 μM concentration after 48 h of treatment. Further increase in concentration and exposure time does not increase the stimulating effect. While 95% of non-transgenic plants under non-stress conditions possess five or fewer seminal roots, the number of plants with developed sixth seminal root reaches up to 100% when selected transgenic lines are treated with methyl jasmonate.
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20
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Rongsawat T, Peltier JB, Boyer JC, Véry AA, Sentenac H. Looking for Root Hairs to Overcome Poor Soils. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 26:83-94. [PMID: 32980260 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2020.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Breeding new cultivars allowing reduced fertilization and irrigation is a major challenge. International efforts towards this goal focus on noninvasive methodologies, platforms for high-throughput phenotyping of large plant populations, and quantitative description of root traits as predictors of crop performance in environments with limited water and nutrient availability. However, these high-throughput analyses ignore one crucial component of the root system: root hairs (RHs). Here, we review current knowledge on RH functions, mainly in the context of plant hydromineral nutrition, and take stock of quantitative genetics data pointing at correlations between RH traits and plant biomass production and yield components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thanyakorn Rongsawat
- Biochimie et Physiologie Moléculaire des Plantes, UMR BPMP, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, INRAE, Montpellier SupAgro, Montpellier 34060, France
| | - Jean-Benoît Peltier
- Biochimie et Physiologie Moléculaire des Plantes, UMR BPMP, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, INRAE, Montpellier SupAgro, Montpellier 34060, France
| | - Jean-Christophe Boyer
- Biochimie et Physiologie Moléculaire des Plantes, UMR BPMP, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, INRAE, Montpellier SupAgro, Montpellier 34060, France
| | - Anne-Aliénor Véry
- Biochimie et Physiologie Moléculaire des Plantes, UMR BPMP, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, INRAE, Montpellier SupAgro, Montpellier 34060, France
| | - Hervé Sentenac
- Biochimie et Physiologie Moléculaire des Plantes, UMR BPMP, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, INRAE, Montpellier SupAgro, Montpellier 34060, France.
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21
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Nakhforoosh A, Nagel KA, Fiorani F, Bodner G. Deep soil exploration vs. topsoil exploitation: distinctive rooting strategies between wheat landraces and wild relatives. PLANT AND SOIL 2020; 459:397-421. [PMID: 33603255 PMCID: PMC7870630 DOI: 10.1007/s11104-020-04794-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Diversity of root systems among genetic resources can contribute to optimize water and nutrient uptake. Topsoil exploitation vs. deep soil exploration represent two contrasting ideotypes in relation to resource use. Our study reveals how rooting patterns changed between wheat wild progenitors and landraces in regard to these ideotypes. METHODS Root (partitioning, morphology, distribution, elongation, anatomy) and shoot traits (dry-matter, leaf area, assimilation) of durum landraces, wild emmer and wild einkorn from Iran, Syria, Turkey and Lebanon were phenotyped using the GrowScreen-Rhizo platform. Distinctive rooting patterns were identified via principal component analysis and relations with collection site characteristics analyzed. RESULTS Shoot trait differentiation was strongly driven by seed weight, leading to superior early vigor of landraces. Wild progenitors formed superficial root systems with a higher contribution of lateral and early-emerging nodal axes to total root length. Durum landraces had a root system dominated by seminal axes allocated evenly over depth. Xylem anatomy was the trait most affected by the environmental influence of the collection site. CONCLUSIONS The durum landrace root system approximated a deep soil exploration ideotype which would optimize subsoil water uptake, while monococcum-type wild einkorn was most similar to a topsoil exploiting strategy with potential competitive advantages for subsistence in natural vegetation. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11104-020-04794-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Nakhforoosh
- Division of Agronomy, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Konrad Lorenz-Straße 24, A-3430 Tulln an der Donau, Austria
- Global Institute of Food Security, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 0W9 Canada
| | - Kerstin A. Nagel
- IBG-2: Plant Sciences, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Fabio Fiorani
- IBG-2: Plant Sciences, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Gernot Bodner
- Division of Agronomy, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Konrad Lorenz-Straße 24, A-3430 Tulln an der Donau, Austria
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Semchenko
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. .,Department of Botany, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
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Terletskaya NV, Lee TE, Altayeva NA, Kudrina NO, Blavachinskaya IV, Erezhetova U. Some Mechanisms Modulating the Root Growth of Various Wheat Species under Osmotic-Stress Conditions. PLANTS 2020; 9:plants9111545. [PMID: 33187339 PMCID: PMC7696822 DOI: 10.3390/plants9111545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The role of the root in water supply and plant viability is especially important if plants are subjected to stress at the juvenile stage. This article describes the study of morphophysiological and cytological responses, as well as elements of the anatomical structure of primary roots of three wheat species, Triticum monococcum L., Triticum dicoccum Shuebl., and Triticum aestivum L., to osmotic stress. It was shown that the degree of plasticity of root morphology in water deficit affected the growth and development of aboveground organs. It was found that in conditions of osmotic stress, the anatomical root modulations were species-specific. In control conditions the increase in absolute values of root diameter was reduced with the increase in the ploidy of wheat species. Species-specific cytological responses to water deficit of apical meristem cells were also shown. The development of plasmolysis, interpreted as a symptom of reduced viability apical meristem cells, was revealed. A significant increase in enzymatic activity of superoxide dismutase under osmotic stress was found to be one of the mechanisms that could facilitate root elongation in adverse conditions. The tetraploid species T. dicoccum Shuebl. were confirmed as a source of traits of drought tolerant primary root system for crosses with wheat cultivars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina V. Terletskaya
- Department of Biodiversity and Biological Resources, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Al-Farabi av., 71, Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan; (I.V.B.); (U.E.)
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Timiryazev Str. 45, Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan;
- Correspondence: (N.V.T.); (T.E.L.); (N.O.K.); Tel.: +7-(777)-2993335 (N.V.T.); +7-(707)-6844924 (T.E.L.); +7-(705)-1811440 (N.O.K.)
| | - Tamara E. Lee
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Timiryazev Str. 45, Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan;
- Correspondence: (N.V.T.); (T.E.L.); (N.O.K.); Tel.: +7-(777)-2993335 (N.V.T.); +7-(707)-6844924 (T.E.L.); +7-(705)-1811440 (N.O.K.)
| | - Nazira A. Altayeva
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Timiryazev Str. 45, Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan;
| | - Nataliya O. Kudrina
- Department of Biodiversity and Biological Resources, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Al-Farabi av., 71, Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan; (I.V.B.); (U.E.)
- Central Laboratory for Biocontrol, Certification and Preclinical Trials, Al-Farabi av., 93, Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan
- Correspondence: (N.V.T.); (T.E.L.); (N.O.K.); Tel.: +7-(777)-2993335 (N.V.T.); +7-(707)-6844924 (T.E.L.); +7-(705)-1811440 (N.O.K.)
| | - Irina V. Blavachinskaya
- Department of Biodiversity and Biological Resources, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Al-Farabi av., 71, Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan; (I.V.B.); (U.E.)
- Central Laboratory for Biocontrol, Certification and Preclinical Trials, Al-Farabi av., 93, Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan
| | - Ulzhan Erezhetova
- Department of Biodiversity and Biological Resources, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Al-Farabi av., 71, Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan; (I.V.B.); (U.E.)
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Karlsson Green K, Stenberg JA, Lankinen Å. Making sense of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in the light of evolution. Evol Appl 2020; 13:1791-1805. [PMID: 32908586 PMCID: PMC7463341 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 07/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a holistic approach to combat pests (including herbivores, pathogens, and weeds) using a combination of preventive and curative actions, and only applying synthetic pesticides when there is an urgent need. Just as the recent recognition that an evolutionary perspective is useful in medicine to understand and predict interactions between hosts, diseases, and medical treatments, we argue that it is crucial to integrate an evolutionary framework in IPM to develop efficient and reliable crop protection strategies that do not lead to resistance development in herbivores, pathogens, and weeds. Such a framework would not only delay resistance evolution in pests, but also optimize each element of the management and increase the synergies between them. Here, we outline key areas within IPM that would especially benefit from a thorough evolutionary understanding. In addition, we discuss the difficulties and advantages of enhancing communication among research communities rooted in different biological disciplines and between researchers and society. Furthermore, we present suggestions that could advance implementation of evolutionary principles in IPM and thus contribute to the development of sustainable agriculture that is resilient to current and emerging pests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Karlsson Green
- Department of Plant Protection BiologySwedish University of Agricultural SciencesAlnarpSweden
| | - Johan A. Stenberg
- Department of Plant Protection BiologySwedish University of Agricultural SciencesAlnarpSweden
| | - Åsa Lankinen
- Department of Plant Protection BiologySwedish University of Agricultural SciencesAlnarpSweden
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Fradgley N, Evans G, Biernaskie J, Cockram J, Marr E, Oliver AG, Ober E, Jones H. Effects of breeding history and crop management on the root architecture of wheat. PLANT AND SOIL 2020; 452:587-600. [PMID: 32713967 PMCID: PMC7371663 DOI: 10.1007/s11104-020-04585-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Selection for optimal root system architecture (RSA) is important to ensure genetic gains in the sustainable production of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Here we examine the hypothesis that past wheat breeding has led to changes in RSA and that future breeding efforts can focus directly on RSA to improve adaptation to target environments. METHODS We conducted field trials using diverse wheat varieties, including modern and historic UK varieties and non-UK landraces, tested under contrasting tillage regimes (non-inversion tillage versus conventional ploughing) for two trial years or different seeding rates (standard versus high rate) for one trial year. We used field excavation, washing and measurement of root crowns ('shovelomics') to characterise RSA traits, including: numbers of seminal, crown and nodal roots per plant, and crown root growth angle. RESULTS We found differences among genotypes for all root traits. Modern varieties generally had fewer roots per plant than historic varieties. On average, there were fewer crown roots and root angles were wider under shallow non-inversion tillage compared with conventional ploughing. Crown root numbers per plant also tended to be smaller at a high seeding rate compared with the standard. There were significant genotype-by-year, genotype-by-tillage and genotype-by-seeding-rate interactions for many root traits. CONCLUSIONS Smaller root systems are likely to be a result of past selection that facilitated historical yield increases by reducing below-ground competition within the crop. The effects of crop management practices on RSA depend on genotype, suggesting that future breeding could select for improved RSA traits in resource-efficient farming systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- N. Fradgley
- The John Bingham Laboratory, NIAB, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EA UK
| | - G. Evans
- The John Bingham Laboratory, NIAB, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
| | - J.M. Biernaskie
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RB UK
| | - J. Cockram
- The John Bingham Laboratory, NIAB, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
| | - E.C. Marr
- The John Bingham Laboratory, NIAB, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EA UK
| | - A. G. Oliver
- The John Bingham Laboratory, NIAB, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
| | - E. Ober
- The John Bingham Laboratory, NIAB, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
| | - H. Jones
- The John Bingham Laboratory, NIAB, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE UK
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Weiner J. Looking in the Wrong Direction for Higher-Yielding Crop Genotypes. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 24:927-933. [PMID: 31358472 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2019.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Revised: 06/27/2019] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
A misunderstanding of evolution via natural selection has led many plant physiologists and genetic engineers to look in the wrong direction for higher-yielding crop genotypes. Large investments in attempts to make 'better' plants by improving basic physiological processes are not likely to succeed because natural selection has been optimizing these for millions of years. Increases in yield from plant breeding have usually resulted from decreases, not increases, in plant fitness. Examples include reduced plant height and more vertical root growth in cereals. Plant scientists and breeders should generate hypotheses based on what evolutionary biologists call 'group selection', looking for attributes that increase yield in ways that decrease fitness, rather than attempting to improve upon the achievements of natural selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Weiner
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark.
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